On July 19, Robert Wilkins, president of Danfoss North America, a manufacturer of high-efficiency electronic and mechanical components and controls for air-conditioning, heating, refrigeration, and motion systems, joined in discussions on renewable energy, energy efficiency, smart buildings, and smart-grid technologies during the Clean Energy Ministerial in Washington, D.C.

Hosted by the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE), the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the Stakeholder Meeting prefaced the Clean Energy Ministerial and included more than 150 clean-energy leaders from technology companies, financial services, professional services, academia, associations, non-profits, and more, to discuss the policies and mechanisms necessary for the acceleration of worldwide clean-energy deployment.

Wilkins, who addressed energy efficiency in end-use sectors alongside representatives from Sustainable Development Capital, Whirlpool, and Wal-Mart, called for action, saying, “Forty percent of all energy consumption in the U.S. is related to buildings. The built environment is divided between new construction and existing buildings. Each group has unique challenges and constraints, but both groups require strong energy policy. Specifically, we need tax incentives for replacing old, inefficient equipment. We need stronger building codes that are enforced. We need an effective building rating system to ensure investment in energy savings leads to increased building values.”

Lykke Friis, Danish Minister of Climate and Energy, and Pedro Marin, Spanish Secretary of State for Energy, further commented on the need for global action on climate, inter-governmental collaboration on clean energy, and policy that will mobilize private capital.

Ultimately, the Stakeholder Meeting, which was an official side event for private-sector participants planning on attending the Clean Energy Ministerial hosted by Energy Secretary Steven Chu and the U.S. Department of Energy on July 20, concluded that a clean-energy revolution is dependent on whether or not governments can align their policies to create globally-acting markets.

The first-ever Clean Energy Ministerial convened to bring together ministers and stakeholders from more than 20 countries to collaborate on policies and programs that will accelerate the world's transition to clean-energy technologies.